Question : INCOME OF FARMERS

(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to ascertain the income of the farmers in the country;

(b) if so, the details of per capita income of the farmers in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether income of farmers has decreased in comparison to other communities/professionals of the country during the said period, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has taken any steps/initiatives to ensure smooth credit flow to improve the financial condition of the farmers, cultivators and fruit growers in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the number of beneficiaries there under during the said period, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a) to (c): The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted a “Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households”, during NSS 70th round (January 2013- December 2013) in rural parts of the country. The State/ UT-wise average monthly income per agricultural household for the period July 2012-June 2013, as estimated from the survey is at Annexure-I.

Prior to NSS 70th round, Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers was conducted during NSS 59th round (January 2003- December 2003).

NSSO does not conduct socio-economic survey to assess the income of households other than Agricultural households.

(d) & (e): Government has taken several measures to improve institutional credit flow to farmers in the country which inter-alia, include:

i) Introduction of a low interest crop loan upto a principal amount of Rs. 3 lakh at 7% rate of interest in 2006-07. This was further lowered to 4% per annum in 2011-12 by providing interest subvention of 3% on timely repayments, which was extended for 2013-14 and 2014-15.

ii) Introduction of Kisan Credit Card Scheme(KCC) in 1998-99 to meet short-term credit requirement of all eligible farmers. KCCs have now been converted into Smart Card cum Debit Cards to facilitate its operation through ATMs.
iii) Extension of benefits of interest subvention scheme to small & marginal farmers having Kisan Credit Card for a six months post-harvest for storing their produce in warehouses against negotiable warehouse receipts.
iv) Increase in collateral free farm loan limit from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,00,000.
v) Implementation of revival package for Short-term Rural Cooperative Credit Structure in the country.
State-wise cumulative number of operative/live KCCs issued to the farmers is at Annexure-II.